Skull and Bones Release Date – gameplay, platforms, and trailers

Keen to find out Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones release date, gameplay, and more? Any would-be pirate worth their loot will be anticipating the upcoming high seas adventure game set to come out in the near future.

Here, we’ll cover the Skull and Bones release date, as well as everything we know so far about the pirate game, from its gameplay, additional features, pending delays, and where you’ll be able to play it.

Skull and Bones release date

Skull and Bones is set for release on February 16, 2024, after the launch was revealed during The Game Awards 2023. Previously, the game had suffered several delays and the game’s postponed launch window had been slated for Q1 2024, confirmed through an official Ubisoft earnings document.

The swashbuckling game was originally set for a much earlier launch in 2018, but since the first Skull and Bones delay confirmed by Ubisoft, the project has seen several setbacks during development.

Fans finally have an official date to look forward to, and an official open beta to get a taste of what the game has to offer.

Skull and Bones platforms

Skull and Bones will be available to play on the following platforms:

• PC
• PS5
• Xbox Series X/S

Though originally planned to be released for PS4 and Xbox One as well, those plans have since been dropped by Ubisoft, with the developers shifting their focus to current-gen consoles.

Skull and Bones gameplay

Skull and Bones is an action-adventure game that allows players to engage in realistic naval combat, steering ships, and shooting canons. On land, you’ll be in a third-person point of view to talk to characters, interact, and more.

When on the high seas, players will take full control of an entire ship, coordinating all its aspects from the perspective of the vessel. This will likely mean a streamlined naval combat experience as much about strategy as it is about skill.

Off the seas, you’ll take on the perspective of your character, picking up contracts and missions to complete to help you build up your fleet.

There’s also a crafting system coming in the game, and you’ll surely need to collect rare materials and resources to help kit out your ships.

With three types of vessels, Cargo, Firepower, and Navigation, which fulfill different roles and have different advantages and disadvantages, you’ll be able to kit yourself out for a variety of situations and encounters.

Ubisoft has also confirmed that Skull and Bones is a multiplayer-first, live service experience, and won’t have a single-player campaign.

You’ll still be able to take it on solo though, and between AI pirate ships and ship types and plenty of NPCs, the world shouldn’t ever feel too empty.

Skull and Bones setting

The game is a tactical action game set in third-person and revolving around piracy and naval warfare during the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’ in the 17th century.

Set in a massive open world inspired by the vistas of the Indian Ocean, the game will put players in the shoes (and peg legs) of pirates out for gold, at least when on land.

Skull and Bones trailers

The long development period of Skull and Bones has had some advantages, and one of these is a treasure trove of trailers giving us insight into the setting, world narrative, and gameplay of the game.

First is the cinematic announcement trailer that came out at E3 back in 2017. This was and is our first proper look at the world and the atmosphere Ubisoft intend for the game.

Another official trailer then came out at E3 2018, highlighting the worldbuilding and setting once again in a narrated cinematic that reinvigorated hype for the game.

More recently, we got an official gameplay trailer and a third cinematic trailer.

The gameplay trailer finally gives us a look into the world as we might expect to see it.

The cinematic trailer, meanwhile, follows the path of those that came before it, once again building upon the setting and tone that Ubisoft seemingly aim to evoke through their series.

Though all these trailers look pretty great, we’ll have to wait and see if they can deliver what they’ve been promising for so long.

That’s everything you’ll need to know to be prepared for Ubisoft’s upcoming foray onto the seven seas, from the Skull and Bones release date to its gameplay, setting, and more. As we finally near the game’s release, we’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the latest news.

Skull and Bones FAQs

What is Skull and Bones?

Skull and Bones is a multiplayer pirate game being published by Ubisoft, that promises high-seas adventure, combat, and missions.

Will Skull and Bones be delayed again?

At the moment, there seem to be no plans from Ubisoft to delay Skull and Bones further.

Will Skull and Bones be on PS4 or Xbox One?

Skull and Bones is no longer planned to arrive on PS4 or Xbox One.